gender and sex

• 1. (gender & sex)Sex is the biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.  It is innate and biologically determined so cannot be changed.  The main distinguishing feature of sex is that males have an XY sex chromosome pattern and females have an XX sex chromosome pattern.  However, gender is the psychological and cultural differences between different genders including attitudes, behaviours and social roles. Gender is environmentally determined and is linked to masculinity and femininity.
• 1- (gender &sex) Sex

  • The main distinguishing feature is that males have an XY sex chromosome pattern and females have an XX sex chromosome pattern.
• 1(gender & sex ) There is research to support the view that sex and gender are different concepts
• Batista family from the Dominican Republic


  • Four of the children had XY chromosomal make up but were identified as girls because they appeared to have female genitalia at birth
  • The children were missing the 5-α-reductase enzyme which prevented the production of dihydro-testosterone, meaning their male genitalia were concealed inside their body
  • The children were raised as females until puberty when a surge in testosterone stimulated the production of dihydrotestosterone which caused the sudden development of male genitals; their vaginas healed over, two testicles descended, and they grew full penises
  • The little 'girls' grew up to be muscular men and had no difficulty in adopting the male gender despite being reared as girls
• 1(gender&sex)Although the children's chromosomes stayed the same (sex)

  Their gender identity changed from male to female
• This demonstrates that gender can change but sex cannot